There were no fatalities when an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter from the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., crashed Sept. 7 at nearby Duke Field. Two airmen suffered minor injuries and five others were unhurt. The aircraft was on a routine training flight. The Air Force has launched an investigation in what officials have termed a “hard landing,” according to a 1st Special Operations Wing release. Firemen from Eglin AFB, Fla., put out an initial fire.
A combined Navy and Air Force program is seeking to build a smaller version of a ubiquitous air-to-air missile that could give advanced aircraft, such as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, greater magazine depth in a high-end fight.